Leviticus chapter 11 lists the dietary restrictions God gave to the nation of Israel. The dietary laws included prohibitions against eating pork, shrimp, shellfish and many types of seafood, most insects, scavenger birds, and various other animals. The dietary rules were never intended to apply to anyone other than the Israelites. The purpose of the food laws was to make the Israelites distinct from all other nations

After this purpose had ended, Jesus declared all foods clean (Mark 7:19).

19 Food does not go into a personâs mind. Food goes into his stomach. Then that food goes out of his body.â (When Jesus said this, he meant that there is no food that is unclean for people to eat.)

What (Defiles) Desecrate a Person? [What makes the person unclean?]

14 And he called the people to him again and said to them, "Hear me, all of you, and understand: 15 There is nothing outside a person that by going into him can defile him, but the things that come out of a person are what defile him." 16 [Let those with ears used them and listen 17 And when he had entered the house and left the people, his disciples asked him about the parable. 18 And he said to them, "Then are you also without understanding? Do you not see that whatever goes into a person from outside cannot defile him, 19 since it enters not his heart but his stomach, and is expelled?" (Thus he declared all foods clean.)20 And he said,

"What comes out of a person is what defiles him.21 For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, stealing, murder, adultery, 22 selfishness, doing bad things to other people, lying, sensuality, jealousy, slander (saying bad things to other people), pride, foolish living. 23 All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.â (All these things come from within a person. These things make a person unclean)

As a Christian what we need to eat?

1 Corinthians 10:27-28that dedicated meat should only be banned if the believer knewit was dedicated. The purpose of the ban was to show publicly that they did not worship idols, not that dedicated meat was supernaturally harmful. If food at a grocery store bears the e.g "halal" seal, we should pray about what God wants us to do.

27 Someone who is not a believer may invite you to eat with him. If you want to go, eat anything that is put before you. Do not ask questions about it. 28 But if anyone says to you, âThat food was offered to idols,â then do not eat it. Do not eat it because of that person who told you and because eating it would be something that might be thought wrong.

In General

Christians are not bound by Jewish dietary restrictions. The New Testament says we should be known for our LOVE (John 13:35), not our MEALS. Regarding food dedicated to idols, we need to understand the purpose of the banâto clearly show those around us that we do not worship any god but the True God. As for drinking/eating the blood of animals, since there is no clear guidance, it is a matter of personal conviction and prayer.

Holy Bible is far more concerned with how much we eat than what foods Christians eat. Physical appetites are an analogy of our ability to control ourselves. If we are unable to control our eating habits, we are probably also unable to control other habits such as those of the mind (lust, covetousness, unrighteous hatred/anger) andunable to keep our mouths from gossip or strife. As Christians, are not to let our appetites control us; rather, we are to control them (Deuteronomy 21:20; Proverbs 23:2; 2 Peter 1:5-7; 2 Timothy 3:1-9; 2 Corinthians 10:5).

Deuteronomy 21:20 (ICB) 20They will say to the leaders, âOur son is stubborn and turns against us. He will not obey us. He eats too much. And he is always drunk.â

Proverbs 23:2 (ICB)2â Control yourself
if you have a big appetite.

2 Corinthians 10:5 (ICB)5 And we destroy every proud thing that raises itself against the knowledge of God. We capture every thought and make it give up and obey Christ.

2 Peter 1:5-7 (ICB) 5 Because you have these blessings, you should try as much as you can to add these things to your lives: to your faith, add goodness; and to your goodness, add knowledge; 6 and to your knowledge, add self-control; and to your self-control, add the ability to hold on; and to your ability to hold on, add service for God; 7 and to your service for God, add kindness for your brothers and sisters in Christ; and to this kindness, add love.

2 Timothy 3:1-9 (ICB) - The Last Days3Remember this! There will be many troubles in the last days. 2 In those times people will love only themselves and money. They will brag and be proud. They will say evil things against others. They will not obey their parents. People will not be thankful or be the kind of people God wants. 3 They will not have love for others. They will refuse to forgive others and will speak bad things. They will not control themselves. They will be cruel and will hate what is good. 4 In the last days, people will turn against their friends. They will do foolish things without thinking. They will be conceited and proud. They will love pleasure. They will not love God. 5 They will continue to act as if they serve God, but they will not really serve God. Stay away from those people. 6 Some of them go into homes and get control of weak women who are full of sin. They are led to sin by the many evil desires they have. 7 Those women always try to learn new teachings, but they are never able to understand the truth fully. 8 Just as Jannes and Jambres were against Moses, these people are against the truth. They are people whose thinking has been confused. They have failed in trying to follow the faith. 9 But they will not be successful in what they do. Everyone will see that they are foolish. That is what happened to Jannes and Jambres.

"As Christians, are not to let our appetites control us; rather, we are to control them"